Entry Word: observance
Function: noun
Text: 1 an act of following a custom, rule, or law <the observance of this family tradition would make your grandmother very happy> Synonyms observation Related Words attention, heed, notice; respecting, upholding Near Antonyms infraction, offense (or offence), sin, trespass, wrong; disregard, forgetting, ignoring, neglect, overlooking; delinquency, dereliction Antonyms breach, infringement, nonobservance, transgression, violation2 an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <some religions require very specific observances on holy days> -- see RITE3 a bending to the authority or control of another <a lot of motorists in this state seem to think that observance of the posted speed limit is strictly optional> -- see OBEDIENCE 14 a state of being aware <if you've been doing any significant studying, it has escaped my observance> -- see ATTENTION 2